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Sound skips and distorts, CPU warning light
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Sound skips and distorts, CPU warning light

Product
ITCH
Version
2.2.2
Hardware
Novation TWITCH
Computer
PC
OS
Platform
-
PSM 10:24 AM - 15 April, 2013
Hi there,

I've a fast i5 with 8gb of ram.

When simply mixing two tracks, the sound goes a bit distorted and slows/skips a bit. Not all the time but certainly 10+ times over say half an hour.

I set Itch to have higher priority (I'm a bit of a geek) and this helped a little bit.

The interesting thing is that in Task Manager, with two tracks playing, auto synced, it says I'm using 20% CPU in total (16% for Itch) and have 4gb of physical ram free. But if I press "Setup" in Itch, the CPU warning light is on. It doesn't look like any antivirus stuff is affecting it.

I use the Twitch with CDJs too, but currently I can't rely on Itch/Twitch... please help! As a start point, what settings would you recommend within Itch itself for a pretty fast laptop?

Thanks, Paul
7:06 PM, 15 Apr 2013
PSM attached a file: itch glitch.png
View· Permalink
PSM 7:07 PM - 15 April, 2013
This screenshot shows me with the same track playing in both channels, anti-virus disabled, and latest drivers from Novation site...
8:55 PM, 15 Apr 2013
PSM attached a file: itch glitch.png
View· Permalink
PSM 8:42 AM - 16 April, 2013
Hrm, does this form not handle PNG files?
Serato, Support
Jamie W 1:58 AM - 19 April, 2013
Hey PSM,

Thanks for getting in touch,

1. How big is your music library?
2. Do you use any external hard drives?
3. Do you use any other USB devices?
4. Do you use iTunes to organise your music?

I checked out the image,

5. Try setting your USB buffer to 20MS.
6. Try all USB ports available on your PC.
-- Each port will have a slightly different power output rating so they can perform differently.

Let me know how you get on.

Thanks!
PSM 8:48 AM - 19 April, 2013
1. Currently not very big (due to human error!)
2. Nope
3. Nope
4. Nope

I downgraded to 2.1.0 and it's definitely smoother; but it used to be flawless.

I'll try it in a different USB port, but I've always used it in the same port.

Thanks for the reply; will let you know.
Serato, Support
Jamie W 9:25 PM - 21 April, 2013
Hey PSM,

1. Try using a different USB cable.
2. Try using all USB ports available.

Quote:
I downgraded to 2.1.0 and it's definitely smoother; but it used to be flawless.


What settings have you recently changed?
What software have you recently installed?

If you are still having issues please can you get back to me with your full computer specs?
-- Right-Click your "My Computer" icon and select properties.
-- Copy/Paste this information back to me please.

Thanks.
PSM 4:37 PM - 3 May, 2013
I can't copy and paste that screen, so...
Intel i5-2430M @ 2.40GHz
8.00GB ram
64 Bit OS

I tried in a different port with two other cables and it's still the same I'm afraid :(
PSM 10:14 AM - 4 May, 2013
Somebody from Scan Pro Audio (where I bought my Twitch) saw this post and offered to tweak my laptop for Serato - now that's service!

I couldn't wait, so I used this script below. At some point I'll do it line-by-line* and figure out what was causing this. Seems to have improved massively!

www.djtechtools.com

* I'll probably never bother :)
Serato, Support
Jamie W 9:22 PM - 7 May, 2013
Hey PSM,

Sorry for the late response ( I have just returned to the office for the first time this week).

Quote:
Somebody from Scan Pro Audio (where I bought my Twitch) saw this post and offered to tweak my laptop for Serato - now that's service!

I couldn't wait, so I used this script below. At some point I'll do it line-by-line* and figure out what was causing this. Seems to have improved massively!


Thats great news! So have your issues now been resolved?

Thanks for sending through the link - I will definitely investigate their techniques.
PSM 9:32 PM - 7 May, 2013
Sorry, no. It started skipping again within a couple of minutes. There was no change; it will often go a few minutes between incidences.

I'm considering re-installing Windows 7 to start a-fresh. But I don't really want to!
Serato, Support
Jamie W 4:21 AM - 9 May, 2013
Hey PSM,

1. How much free space do you have on your internal hard drive?
2. How big is your music library (can you give me a GB value).

3. Increase the USB buffer to 20ms.
-- Launch ITCH.
-- Click the SETUP button.
-- Navigate along to the HARDWARE tab.
-- Increase USB buffer to 20MS.
-- Click Apply.
-- Close the SETUP window.

Get back to me re questions 1,2. Please try question 3 and let me know how you get on.

Quote:
I'm considering re-installing Windows 7 to start a-fresh. But I don't really want to!


If you are still having issues this would be a good option.

Thanks.
5:00 AM, 23 May 2013
This help request has been closed due to inactivity.
PSM 2:10 PM - 26 August, 2013
Ahem, I erm, I owe you an apology.

After going back to Scan Pro Audio again and moaning, it was tracked down to a dodgy driver update for the gigabit ethernet port - something I never use so it got disabled.

So not in any way Serato's fault, or Novation's fault, and all kudos to Scan who really could've said "go away" as I've had it over a year now.
Serato, Support
Jamie W 9:13 PM - 26 August, 2013
Hey PSM,

Its all good, no problem :)
Glad to hear you got the issue resolved! and thanks for getting back in touch to let me know.

Feel free to get in contact again if you have any further questions.

Thanks.